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Discussion on Long term dex use
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Member:
Silv
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Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 2:07 pm:
I have a 20 year old FEI schoolmaster that I bought 1 1/2 years ago. He developed many allergies (bugs,topicals,hay,grains) according to the old owner when she imported him 8 years ago from Holland. She would keep him on dex during the summer months (april to sept) because he will develop (hives) on his body and edema swelling on his legs from the bites. She kept him on 2 mg daily. I found 2 mg did nothing and he did well on 4 mg in the pm when the bugs were at there worst.
I moved him to an indoor for the winter and with the hay changes he would get very crampy (gas) and have the squirts a bit as well as develop swellings. I put him back on the dex and everything cleared up. If I start to remove the dex he gets the stomach sensitivity again which will lead to the swellings. He has been on 4 mg per day since Jan and we are heading into the bug season so he will need to stay on. I am concerned about leaving him on it for almost 9 months. My vet said that 4 mg is such a low dose (the dose she uses on a cat) that it it probably ok. He is doing well otherwise and the alternative with the allergies and cramping is more upsetting. Do you think this regimine is dangerous in the longterm and do you have any suggestions for an alternative therapy? During bug season it is hard to do every other day as he will blow up. If I do every other day for the hay issue do I need to wean him down on such a low dose?
Thanks
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, May 18, 2006 - 6:51 am:
Hello M,
Such long term use in the horse is poorly researched and there are few cases to draw from. Most of those are autoimmune disorders and few problems are reported with the dex use for long terms. We have a lot more information on the symptoms of corticosteroid problems at Equine Medications and Nutriceuticals » Anti-inflammatories (NSAID's, Steroids, Arthritis Rx) » Overview of the Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs. You should always be looking for ways to reduce the dosage and frequency to the least amount of medication that remains effective.
DrO
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